143 



CINNYRIS MINIMUS. 



(TINY SUN-BIRD.) 



Cinnyris minima, Sykes, P. Z. S. 1832, p. 99 ; Jerdon, Madras Journ. xi. p. 226. no. 235 



(1840) ; Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 409. no. 47 (1850). 

 Nectarinia minima, Tickell, J. A. S. B. ii. p. 277. no. 38 (1833) ; Blyth, op. cit. xii. p. 978 



(1843) ; Gray, Gen. B. i. p. 98 (1847) ; Blyth, Cat. B. Mus. A. S. B. p. 226. no. 1369 (1849) ; 



Layard, Ann. Nat. Hist. 2nd ser. xii. p. 175. no. 60 (1853) ; Hartl. J. f. 0. 1854, p. 165. 

 Arachnothera minima, Gray, Hand-1. B. i. p. 112. no. 1395 (1869). 



Nectarinia minuta, Jard. Mongr. Sun-birds, pp. 224, 265, fig. titlepage (1843, lapsu cal.). 

 Nectarophila minima, Keichb. Handb. Scansorise, p. 282. no. 654, pi. 568. figs. 3873-74 



(1854); Walden, Ibis, 1870, p. 40 ; Holdsworth, P. Z. S. 1872, p. 434. 

 Leptocoma minima, Horsf. & Moore, Cat. B. Mus. E.I. Co. ii. p. 742. no. 1869 (1856) ; Jerd. 



B. Ind. i. p. 369 (1862) ; Hume, Str. F. 1877, p. 42. 



3 ad. supra saturate ruber, tectricibus alarum minimis et medianis dorso concoloribus : capite summo metalliee 

 viridi : loris, genis et regione parotica nigris : dorso postico et uropygio leete rubris chalybeo lavatis : 

 tectricibus alarum majoribus, remigibus rectricibusque nigris : mento gulaque metalliee lilacinis : prae- 

 pectore saturate rubro : pectore, abdomine et subcaudalibus flavicanti-albis : fasciis pectoralibus sulfureis : 

 rostro et pedibus nigris : iride saturate brunnea. 



2 ad. supra olivascenti-brunnea, tectricibus alarum minimis et medianis dorso concoloribus : tectricibus 



majoribus remigibusque nigris, pallidius marginatis : dorso postico, uropygio et supracaudalibus saturate 

 rubris: rectricibus saturate brunneis, rufescenti-olivaceo marginatis: subtus fulvescens, pectore summo 

 et subcaudalibus flavicantibus. 



3 juv. similis feminae adultae, sed capite et collo olivaceis et subtus pallide flavescens. 



Hab. in peninsula Indica, et in insula Ceylonensi. 



Adult Male. Forehead and crown metallic green ; lores, cbeeks, and ear-coverts black ; back and sides of 

 tbe neck, upper back, scapulars, and least and median series of wing-coverts dark red ; lower back, 

 rump, and upper tail-coverts bright red, strongly glossed with steel-blue, making these parts in certain 

 lights appear rich metallic lilac ; remainder of the wings and the tail brownish black ; chin and throat 

 metallic lilac ; crop and front of the chest dark red ; remainder of the breast, abdomen, thighs, and 

 under tail-coverts yellowish white; pectoral tufts sulphur-yellow; under wing-coverts and inner 

 margins of the quills white; bill and legs black; irides dark brown. Total length 3'4 inches, culmen 

 055, wing 1'8, tail T25, tarsus - 5. 



Adult Female. Upper parts olive-brown, including the least and median series of wing-coverts ; remainder 

 of the wings dark brown, with the edges of the feathers paler, and shaded with olive on the quills ; 

 lower back and upper tail-coverts deep red ; tail dark brown, the feathers edged with reddish olive ; 

 underparts pale buff, slightly yellower on the centre of the breast and on the under tail-coverts ; bill 

 and legs black ; bides dark brown. Total length 33 inches, culmen 0'45, wing 175, tail 1'2, tarsus 0'5. 



